We did lots of painting in this space. We also replaced the chandelier, and vertical blinds (we hate those things). I chose to do big grommet curtain panels for easy opening and closing, and also so that I could take them down and throw them in the wash (done that lots) whenever I wanted. I made Jon hang up the faux pergola (which he HATES and is therefore getting left behind as I promised him he wouldn’t EVER have to move that thing again.) and grape vines above.

The dining room as it was when looking at the house.

So we got a hand me down (free!!!) dining set shortly after moving into our house. I REALLY love this table. It’s magic! Easter egg die, permanent marker, crayon, blueberry smoothies… It can take it and MORE. I don’t even care. The children don’t get in trouble (well for purposely coloring something they shouldn’t they do, but accidents… NOPE!) when messes happen. The ONLY reason I would ever consider replacing my magic table (we are talking soap and water clean up!) would be if I NEEDED a bigger one. Anyway the freebie chairs didn’t match the bar-stools we had picked out and purchased. This bugged me,  but I had a problem. I couldn’t for the life of me pick a color to paint them, or fabric to reupholster them in.

My dining room is most of the time without the sewing machine.

And so they stayed like this for YEARS. Bugging me. And then something wonderful happened. 

I was finally inspired from Brook at All Things Thrifty. I saw the dining room set she did and it was just perfect. I no longer had to pick just ONE color. AND I knew I would LOVE it and that it would work in my crazy house.

I showed Jon and he was ALL for it (he is the BEST!!!). Then I had to show my Mom (a visual was required to prove to her that I had in fact NOT lost it.) since she was going to be helping me fabric hunt.

These are the fabrics I picked out for my B-day gift from Jon. He actually liked them all. He just request nothing TOO girly. Isn’t my cousin the cutest?!

I did the bar-stools in yellow, orange, and blue. It took me a while to find an orange that went well enough with the other fabrics, and since orange is Kaylee, and Jon’s favorite color it couldn’t be left out. I am hoping to be able to change out the table legs in the near future.

Anyway we LOVE it!  It’s SO nice in the winter when we are trapped in feet of snow (although that’s no longer going to be an issue!) to have a bright and colorful space to remind us of spring/summer/fall….